Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: Erixon played his first season of pro hockey in Sweden – splitting the year between Timra in the Elitserien and Sundsvall in AllSvenskan (Sweden's second league). Erixon saw limited ice time in 27 games with Timra and had no points with 2 PMs. He played 23 games with Sundsvall and scored 2 goals with 3 assists and 7 PMs. Erixon was very close to making the Swedish U20 WJC squad as an 18-year-old but was not selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in his first year of eligibility.

2008-09: Erixon skated in 48 games for Timra in his first full Elitserien season and represented Sweden at the 2009 U20 World Junior Championship. He finished -9 with 3 goals, 4 assists and 14 PMs as Timra finished eighth in the 12-team league. In Timra's first round playoff series with HV71 he played in all seven games and scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -4 with 2 PMs. Erixon was +5 with 2 assists and 4 PMs in six games for silver medal-winning Sweden at the WJC tournament.

2009-10: Erixon averaged over 21 minutes of ice time per game in 46 games as a 20-year-old for Timra. He scored 4 goals with 3 assists and was -1 with 14 PMs. Timra finished eighth in the Elitserien. In five playoff games he scored 2 goals and was -1.

2010-11: Erixon was the leading scorer amongst defensemen for Timra despite missing 11 games. In 44 games he scored 5 goals with 15 assists and was -6 with 20 PMs. Timra slipped to tenth place, missing the Elitserien playoffs. Erixon was signed by Vancouver as a free agent to a two-year, entry-level contract in April 2011.

2011-12: Things did not go as planned for Erixon in his first season in North America. After attending Canucks camp he was assigned to Vancouver AHL affiliate Chicago. He skated in 30 games for the Wolves and was minus-six with 1 goal, 7 assists and 10 penalty minutes. He was traded to the Ducks organization at the end of February. He never skated for the Ducks AHL affiliate Syracuse and his contract was bought out by the Ducks in June 2012.

Talent Analysis

Erixon is a strong-skating two-way defenseman with very good hockey sense. Not a big player, but he compensates this with his smartness and good positioning. He plays a fairly safe game defensively and can contribute offensively with good passes and a decent shot. Puck handling is good and added strength is the key for him to take his game to another level. Although he rarely gets caught out of position, more muscles will be needed once he on regular basis will be forced to handle big and strong forwards in the top league.

Future

Erixon is not your typical defenseman at generous 5’11, but has above average hockey sense and the determination to improve his game.

Erixon was dealt by the Vancouver Canucks to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2012 NHL trade deadline.